From Saturday's Washington Times:
Georgetown University has banned outside Protestant ministries from holding on-campus events and using the school's name, prompting group leaders to question whether the prestigious Catholic school is restricting religious choice.
"All we're wanting is diversity," said Kevin Offner, a staff leader for InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship. "We're simply saying, 'Can't we worship and conduct our meetings in a way appropriate to our tradition?' And it feels like [Georgetown is] saying 'no.' "
In a letter last week to leaders of the campus's Affiliated Ministries, the Rev. Constance C. Wheeler, a Georgetown Protestant chaplain, said that "as a result of our new direction for the upcoming academic year, we have decided not to renew any covenant agreements" with the groups.
The decision -- which affects a few hundred students belonging to six Christian groups -- forbids the ministries from having any "activity or presence" on campus, including worship services, retreats or helping students move into their dorms.
Georgetown, meanwhile, recently accepted a $20 million dollar gift from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal to open a Center for Christian-Muslim understanding.
This despite the fact that there is almost certainly not a similar institution in Saudi Arabia.
Georgetown is home to one of America's pre-eminent Islamic-terror apologists, Professor John Esposito. His good work has not gone unnoticed, as Esposito gained a mention in David Horowitz' latest book, The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America.
About that Saudi prince, Alwaleed bin Talal. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he's the same guy who, while attempting to donate $10 dollars to 9/11 victims in 2001, sneaked in this statement, claiming that the US, "should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stand toward the Palestinian cause."
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani of course refused to accept Bin Talal's check.
But let's not be too hard on Georgetown, though. Perhaps the school is holding out for a $20 million donation from the Reverend Jerry Falwell.
Hat tip to Ed Lasky of the American Thinker, with an assist from Richard Baehr.
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